Minnesota’s office of Broadband Development recently announced that two broadband infrastructure projects in Fillmore and Winona Counties have been selected to receive funding from the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program.
“High-speed internet should be thought of as a utility, not a luxury,” said Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona). “Covid made it clear just how important high-speed internet access is to our daily lives. Particularly in Greater Minnesota, there are still too many folks who don’t have access to high-speed internet at their home or business, but we continue to make progress each and every year. I am thankful that the office of Broadband Development has chosen two worthy communities in our area for this critical infrastructure.”
AcenTek – Rural Peterson Exchange Fiber to the Home
Fillmore and Winona Counties
GRANT $1,492,096
This last mile project will serve 214 unserved households, 18 unserved businesses, 88 unserved farms, and two unserved community anchor institutions as well as 47 underserved households and five underserved businesses in areas of Fillmore and Winona counties. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and Fillmore County EDA, AcenTek will improve these 374 locations’ broadband levels up to 1 Gbps download and 100 Mbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals. These investments will bring the benefits of high-speed broadband, increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for the people who live, work, and farm in the rural Peterson area.
- Total eligible project cost is $4,973,654
- Local match is $3,481,558
MiBroadband, LLC – Rural Preston Fiber to the Premises
Fillmore County
GRANT $1,173,330
The Rural Preston fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) project will serve 231 unserved and 26 underserved locations in the rural portions of southern Fillmore County. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, City of Preston and Fillmore County, MiBroadband will improve speeds to 1 Gbps down and 1 Gbps upload on a fiber network, exceeding the State’s 2022 and 2026 speed goals. Building a FTTP network will improve access to education and healthcare services. It will also increase employment as businesses leverage this new network and telecommuting opportunities become accessible.
- Total eligible project cost is $3,370,372
- Local match is $2,197,042
The projects were two of 39 selected to receive state funding through the most recent round of grant funding, which is aimed at expanding broadband infrastructure to unserved or underserved communities.A full listing of grant awards and project descriptions is available here: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/grant-program/#2